Encoded image based messaging system

ABSTRACT

A system to provide users with a means for accessing media content directly, by performing operations that include: causing display of a media item within a graphical user interface at a client device, the graphical user interface including a set of graphical elements; receiving a selection of a graphical element from among the set of graphical elements within the graphical user interface; generating a reference to the media item based on the selection of the graphical element; encoding a matrix barcode with the reference to the media item; and generating a presentation of the media item that includes a display of the matrix barcode at a position within the media item.

BACKGROUND

The proliferation of social media platforms demonstrates the appeal ofsharing media generally. A common approach is to allow users within asocial media platform to post media content, such as images and videos,to a sharing service and then allowing other users to access the mediacontent through the internet or messages distributed by the users to oneanother. While effective, the existing means of sharing and distributingmedia content is not exhaustive, and users are always eager to try newways of sharing media content with one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsmay describe similar components in different views. To easily identifythe discussion of any particular element or act, the most significantdigit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number inwhich that element is first introduced. Some embodiments are illustratedby way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a networked environment inwhich the present disclosure may be deployed, in accordance with someexamples.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a messaging system, inaccordance with some examples, that has both client-side and server-sidefunctionality.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a data structure asmaintained in a database, in accordance with some examples.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a message, in accordance withsome examples.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for an access-limiting process, in accordance withsome examples.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 for encoding a matrix barcode with areference to a media item, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method 700 for distributing a message that includesa presentation of a matrix barcode, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method 800 for accessing media content via a matrixbarcode, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates an interface diagram 900 in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates an interface diagram 1000 in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions may be executed forcausing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein, in accordance with some examples.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a software architecture within whichexamples may be implemented.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic representation of a processing environment, inaccordance with some examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, social media platforms enable users to share anddistribute various forms of media content with one another. For example,traditional social media platforms enable users to access the variousforms of media content through messages received at respective devices,or by navigating to a particular media collection associated with a userprofile, by providing a series of inputs to select the user profile fromamong a plurality of user profiles, navigating to the user profile, andthen searching for and finding the desired media content from among thecollection of media content associated with the user profile. Whilethese existing methods do provide users with a means of accessing mediacontent, the process of actually getting to the media content is limitedor tedious. Furthermore, users are occasionally unable to find aparticular user profile or media content within a collection associatedwith the user profile, because they may not actually know the username,or because the user profile has too many collections of media content toconveniently search through. As a result, users are often dissuaded fromeven attempting to find the desired media content or user profile.

Accordingly, the disclosed system provides users with a means forquickly and conveniently accessing media content directly, without theneed of any explicit user inputs to search for a given user profile ormedia content associated with the user profile through encoded matrixbarcodes (i.e., a scannable image), wherein a matrix barcode, such as aQR code, may be encoded with a reference to a user profile or a locationof media content within a media collection associated with the userprofile. In certain embodiments, the matrix barcode may be encoded withinstructions that cause a client device to generate a request to thesystem, wherein the request may include a request to add a user profileassociated with the matrix barcode to a list of social networkconnections, or may simply request the system to cause display of mediacontent at the client device.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodimentof the present subject matter. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “inone embodiment” or “in an embodiment” appearing in various placesthroughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment.

For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the presentsubject matter. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill inthe art that embodiments of the subject matter described may bepracticed without the specific details presented herein, or in variouscombinations, as described herein. Furthermore, well-known features maybe omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the describedembodiments. Various examples may be given throughout this description.These are merely descriptions of specific embodiments. The scope ormeaning of the claims is not limited to the examples given.

In certain example embodiments, an encoded image based messaging system(hereinafter referred to as the “system”), is configured to performoperations that include: causing display of a media item within agraphical user interface at a client device, the graphical userinterface including a set of graphical elements; receiving a selectionof a graphical element from among the set of graphical elements withinthe graphical user interface; generating a reference to the media itembased on the selection of the graphical element; encoding a matrixbarcode with the reference to the media item; and generating apresentation of the media item that includes a display of the matrixbarcode at a position within the media item.

In some embodiments, the set of graphical elements may comprisegraphical icons, or digital “stickers,” which a user may select andposition upon a display of media content, such as an image of video,presented within the GUI at the client device. According to certainembodiments, a sticker may include a graphical icon or element whichcomprises an illustration of a character or object. Users may provideinputs to select and position stickers within media content or messagesbased on inputs received via the client device 102. In certainembodiments, the set of graphical elements may include a sticker, orgraphical element, that depicts a matrix barcode. A user may provide aninput to select the graphical element and “drag and drop” the graphicalelement at a position within media content presented within the GUI.Responsive to receiving the input that selects and positions thegraphical element, the system may generate and encode a matrix barcodewith one or more instructions. For example, the one or more instructionsmay include a reference to the media item (i.e., a URL), wherein thereference to the media item may cause a client device to navigate to aposition of the media item among a collection of media items (i.e., astory). In further embodiments, the instructions may cause the clientdevice to generate a request, such as a request to add a user profileassociated with the media content to a list of social networkconnections.

In certain example embodiments, one or more attributes of the matrixbarcode may be generated based on user profile data associated with auser profile of the client device. The one or more attributes mayinclude graphical properties. For example, the matrix barcode mayinclude a display of a user identifier associated with the user profile.

Consider an illustrative example from a user perspective. A user at afirst client device may provide inputs to display a GUI to configuremedia content to be added to a media collection, or to be distributed ina message to one or more recipients. The GUI may include a display ofthe media content, such as an image or video, within one portion of theGUI, and a display of a set of graphical elements within another portionof the GUI. The user may provide an input that selects a graphicalelement from among the set of graphical elements, wherein selection ofthe graphical element causes the system to generate a matrix barcodethat is encoded with a set of instructions that include at least areference to the media content.

The user may then distribute a presentation of the media content thatincludes a display of the matrix barcode at a position within the mediacontent to one or more users via a message, or by adding thepresentation of the media content to a media collection.

A user at a second client device may cause display of the presentationof the media content, and allow a third client device to scan the matrixbarcode displayed within the presentation of the media content.Responsive to scanning the matrix barcode, the third client device maygenerate a request to the system, wherein the request includes at leastthe reference to the media content. The system may then cause display ofthe media content at the third client device.

Networked Computing Environment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example messaging system 100 forexchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over a network.The messaging system 100 includes multiple instances of a client device102, each of which hosts a number of applications, including a messagingclient 104. Each messaging client 104 is communicatively coupled toother instances of the messaging client 104 and a messaging serversystem 108 via a network 106 (e.g., the Internet).

A messaging client 104 is able to communicate and exchange data withanother messaging client 104 and with the messaging server system 108via the network 106. The data exchanged between messaging client 104,and between a messaging client 104 and the messaging server system 108,includes functions (e.g., commands to invoke functions) as well aspayload data (e.g., text, audio, video or other multimedia data).

The messaging server system 108 provides server-side functionality viathe network 106 to a particular messaging client 104. While certainfunctions of the messaging system 100 are described herein as beingperformed by either a messaging client 104 or by the messaging serversystem 108, the location of certain functionality either within themessaging client 104 or the messaging server system 108 may be a designchoice. For example, it may be technically preferable to initiallydeploy certain technology and functionality within the messaging serversystem 108 but to later migrate this technology and functionality to themessaging client 104 where a client device 102 has sufficient processingcapacity.

The messaging server system 108 supports various services and operationsthat are provided to the messaging client 104. Such operations includetransmitting data to, receiving data from, and processing data generatedby the messaging client 104. This data may include message content,client device information, geolocation information, media augmentationand overlays, message content persistence conditions, social networkinformation, and live event information, as examples. Data exchangeswithin the messaging system 100 are invoked and controlled throughfunctions available via user interfaces (UIs) of the messaging client104.

Turning now specifically to the messaging server system 108, anApplication Program Interface (API) server 110 is coupled to, andprovides a programmatic interface to, application servers 112. Theapplication servers 112 are communicatively coupled to a database server118, which facilitates access to a database 120 that stores dataassociated with messages processed by the application servers 112.Similarly, a web server 124 is coupled to the application servers 112,and provides web-based interfaces to the application servers 112. Tothis end, the web server 124 processes incoming network requests overthe Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and several other relatedprotocols.

The Application Program Interface (API) server 110 receives andtransmits message data (e.g., commands and message payloads) between theclient device 102 and the application servers 112. Specifically, theApplication Program Interface (API) server 110 provides a set ofinterfaces (e.g., routines and protocols) that can be called or queriedby the messaging client 104 in order to invoke functionality of theapplication servers 112. The Application Program Interface (API) server110 exposes various functions supported by the application servers 112,including account registration, login functionality, the sending ofmessages, via the application servers 112, from a particular messagingclient 104 to another messaging client 104, the sending of media files(e.g., images or video) from a messaging client 104 to a messagingserver 114, and for possible access by another messaging client 104, thesettings of a collection of media data (e.g., story), the retrieval of alist of friends of a user of a client device 102, the retrieval of suchcollections, the retrieval of messages and content, the addition anddeletion of entities (e.g., friends) to an entity graph (e.g., a socialgraph), the location of friends within a social graph, and opening anapplication event (e.g., relating to the messaging client 104).

The application servers 112 host a number of server applications andsubsystems, including for example a messaging server 114, an imageprocessing server 116, and a social network server 122. The messagingserver 114 implements a number of message processing technologies andfunctions, particularly related to the aggregation and other processingof content (e.g., textual and multimedia content) included in messagesreceived from multiple instances of the messaging client 104. As will bedescribed in further detail, the text and media content from multiplesources may be aggregated into collections of content (e.g., calledstories or galleries). These collections are then made available to themessaging client 104. Other processor and memory intensive processing ofdata may also be performed server-side by the messaging server 114, inview of the hardware requirements for such processing.

The application servers 112 also include an image processing server 116that is dedicated to performing various image processing operations,typically with respect to images or video within the payload of amessage sent from or received at the messaging server 114.

The social network server 122 supports various social networkingfunctions and services and makes these functions and services availableto the messaging server 114. To this end, the social network server 122maintains and accesses an entity graph 306 (as shown in FIG. 3) withinthe database 120. Examples of functions and services supported by thesocial network server 122 include the identification of other users ofthe messaging system 100 with which a particular user has relationshipsor is “following,” and also the identification of other entities andinterests of a particular user.

System Architecture

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating further details regarding themessaging system 100, according to some examples. Specifically, themessaging system 100 is shown to comprise the messaging client 104 andthe application servers 112. The messaging system 100 embodies a numberof subsystems, which are supported on the client-side by the messagingclient 104 and on the sever-side by the application servers 112. Thesesubsystems include, for example, an ephemeral timer system 202, acollection management system 204, an augmentation system 206, a mapsystem 208, and an encoding system 210.

The ephemeral timer system 202 is responsible for enforcing thetemporary or time-limited access to content by the messaging client 104and the messaging server 114. The ephemeral timer system 202incorporates a number of timers that, based on duration and displayparameters associated with a message, or collection of messages (e.g., astory), selectively enable access (e.g., for presentation and display)to messages and associated content via the messaging client 104. Furtherdetails regarding the operation of the ephemeral timer system 202 areprovided below.

The collection management system 204 is responsible for managing sets orcollections of media (e.g., collections of text, image video, and audiodata). A collection of content (e.g., messages, including images, video,text, and audio) may be organized into an “event gallery” or an “eventstory.” Such a collection may be made available for a specified timeperiod, such as the duration of an event to which the content relates.For example, content relating to a music concert may be made availableas a “story” for the duration of that music concert. The collectionmanagement system 204 may also be responsible for publishing an iconthat provides notification of the existence of a particular collectionto the user interface of the messaging client 104.

The collection management system 204 furthermore includes a curationinterface 212 that allows a collection manager to manage and curate aparticular collection of content. For example, the curation interface212 enables an event organizer to curate a collection of contentrelating to a specific event (e.g., delete inappropriate content orredundant messages). Additionally, the collection management system 204employs machine vision (or image recognition technology) and contentrules to automatically curate a content collection. In certain examples,compensation may be paid to a user for the inclusion of user-generatedcontent into a collection. In such cases, the collection managementsystem 204 operates to automatically make payments to such users for theuse of their content.

The augmentation system 206 provides various functions that enable auser to augment (e.g., annotate or otherwise modify or edit) mediacontent associated with a message. For example, the augmentation system206 provides functions related to the generation and publishing of mediaoverlays for messages processed by the messaging system 100. Theaugmentation system 206 operatively supplies a media overlay oraugmentation (e.g., an image filter) to the messaging client 104 basedon a geolocation of the client device 102. In another example, theaugmentation system 206 operatively supplies a media overlay to themessaging client 104 based on other information, such as social networkinformation of the user of the client device 102. A media overlay mayinclude audio and visual content and visual effects. Examples of audioand visual content include pictures, texts, logos, animations, and soundeffects. An example of a visual effect includes color overlaying. Theaudio and visual content or the visual effects can be applied to a mediacontent item (e.g., a photo) at the client device 102. For example, themedia overlay may include text or image that can be overlaid on top of aphotograph taken by the client device 102. In another example, the mediaoverlay includes an identification of a location overlay (e.g., Venicebeach), a name of a live event, or a name of a merchant overlay (e.g.,Beach Coffee House). In another example, the augmentation system 206uses the geolocation of the client device 102 to identify a mediaoverlay that includes the name of a merchant at the geolocation of theclient device 102. The media overlay may include other indiciaassociated with the merchant. The media overlays may be stored in thedatabase 120 and accessed through the database server 118.

In some examples, the augmentation system 206 provides a user-basedpublication platform that enables users to select a geolocation on a mapand upload content associated with the selected geolocation. The usermay also specify circumstances under which a particular media overlayshould be offered to other users. The augmentation system 206 generatesa media overlay that includes the uploaded content and associates theuploaded content with the selected geolocation.

In other examples, the augmentation system 206 provides a merchant-basedpublication platform that enables merchants to select a particular mediaoverlay associated with a geolocation via a bidding process. Forexample, the augmentation system 206 associates the media overlay of thehighest bidding merchant with a corresponding geolocation for apredefined amount of time.

The map system 208 provides various geographic location functions, andsupports the presentation of map-based media content and messages by themessaging client 104. For example, the map system 208 enables thedisplay of user icons or avatars (e.g., stored in profile data 308) on amap to indicate a current or past location of “friends” of a user, aswell as media content (e.g., collections of messages includingphotographs and videos) generated by such friends, within the context ofa map. For example, a message posted by a user to the messaging system100 from a specific geographic location may be displayed within thecontext of a map at that particular location to “friends” of a specificuser on a map interface of the messaging client 104. A user canfurthermore share his or her location and status information (e.g.,using an appropriate status avatar) with other users of the messagingsystem 100 via the messaging client 104, with this location and statusinformation being similarly displayed within the context of a mapinterface of the messaging client 104 to selected users.

The encoding system 210 provides various encoding functions within thecontext of the messaging client 104. The messaging client 104 providesan interface to configure and distribute media content by a user withinthe context of the messaging client 104. The messaging system 100further enables a particular user to generate media content thatincludes a scannable coded image, such as a matrix barcode, whereinscanning the matrix barcode causes a client device 102 to display themedia content, or perform some function of the messaging system 100.

Data Architecture

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating data structures 300, whichmay be stored in the database 120 of the messaging server system 108,according to certain examples. While the content of the database 120 isshown to comprise a number of tables, it will be appreciated that thedata could be stored in other types of data structures (e.g., as anobject-oriented database).

The database 120 includes message data stored within a message table302. This message data includes, for any particular one message, atleast message sender data, message recipient (or receiver) data, and apayload. Further details regarding information that may be included in amessage, and included within the message data stored in the messagetable 302 is described below with reference to FIG. 4.

An entity table 304 stores entity data, and is linked (e.g.,referentially) to an entity graph 306 and profile data 308. Entities forwhich records are maintained within the entity table 304 may includeindividuals, corporate entities, organizations, objects, places, events,and so forth. Regardless of entity type, any entity regarding which themessaging server system 108 stores data may be a recognized entity. Eachentity is provided with a unique identifier, as well as an entity typeidentifier (not shown).

The entity graph 306 stores information regarding relationships andassociations between entities. Such relationships may be social,professional (e.g., work at a common corporation or organization)interested-based or activity-based, merely for example.

The profile data 308 stores multiple types of profile data about aparticular entity. The profile data 308 may be selectively used andpresented to other users of the messaging system 100, based on privacysettings specified by a particular entity. Where the entity is anindividual, the profile data 308 includes, for example, a user name,telephone number, address, settings (e.g., notification and privacysettings), as well as a user-selected avatar representation (orcollection of such avatar representations). A particular user may thenselectively include one or more of these avatar representations withinthe content of messages communicated via the messaging system 100, andon map interfaces displayed by messaging clients 104 to other users. Thecollection of avatar representations may include “status avatars,” whichpresent a graphical representation of a status or activity that the usermay select to communicate at a particular time.

Where the entity is a group, the profile data 308 for the group maysimilarly include one or more avatar representations associated with thegroup, in addition to the group name, members, and various settings(e.g., notifications) for the relevant group.

The database 120 also stores augmentation data, such as overlays orfilters, in an augmentation table 310. The augmentation data isassociated with and applied to videos (for which data is stored in avideo table 314) and images (for which data is stored in an image table316).

Filters, in one example, are overlays that are displayed as overlaid onan image or video during presentation to a recipient user. Filters maybe of various types, including user-selected filters from a set offilters presented to a sending user by the messaging client 104 when thesending user is composing a message. Other types of filters includegeolocation filters (also known as geo-filters), which may be presentedto a sending user based on geographic location. For example, geolocationfilters specific to a neighborhood or special location may be presentedwithin a user interface by the messaging client 104, based ongeolocation information determined by a Global Positioning System (GPS)unit of the client device 102.

Another type of filter is a data filter, which may be selectivelypresented to a sending user by the messaging client 104, based on otherinputs or information gathered by the client device 102 during themessage creation process. Examples of data filters include currenttemperature at a specific location, a current speed at which a sendinguser is traveling, battery life for a client device 102, or the currenttime.

Other augmentation data that may be stored within the image table 316includes augmented reality content items (e.g., corresponding toapplying Lenses or augmented reality experiences). An augmented realitycontent item may be a real-time special effect and sound that may beadded to an image or a video.

As described above, augmentation data includes augmented reality contentitems, overlays, image transformations, AR images, and similar termsrefer to modifications that may be applied to image data (e.g., videosor images). This includes real-time modifications, which modify an imageas it is captured using device sensors (e.g., one or multiple cameras)of a client device 102 and then displayed on a screen of the clientdevice 102 with the modifications. This also includes modifications tostored content, such as video clips in a gallery that may be modified.For example, in a client device 102 with access to multiple augmentedreality content items, a user can use a single video clip with multipleaugmented reality content items to see how the different augmentedreality content items will modify the stored clip. For example, multipleaugmented reality content items that apply different pseudorandommovement models can be applied to the same content by selectingdifferent augmented reality content items for the content. Similarly,real-time video capture may be used with an illustrated modification toshow how video images currently being captured by sensors of a clientdevice 102 would modify the captured data. Such data may simply bedisplayed on the screen and not stored in memory, or the contentcaptured by the device sensors may be recorded and stored in memory withor without the modifications (or both). In some systems, a previewfeature can show how different augmented reality content items will lookwithin different windows in a display at the same time. This can, forexample, enable multiple windows with different pseudorandom animationsto be viewed on a display at the same time.

Data and various systems using augmented reality content items or othersuch transform systems to modify content using this data can thusinvolve detection of objects (e.g., faces, hands, bodies, cats, dogs,surfaces, objects, etc.), tracking of such objects as they leave, enter,and move around the field of view in video frames, and the modificationor transformation of such objects as they are tracked. In variousembodiments, different methods for achieving such transformations may beused. Some examples may involve generating a three-dimensional meshmodel of the object or objects, and using transformations and animatedtextures of the model within the video to achieve the transformation. Inother examples, tracking of points on an object may be used to place animage or texture (which may be two dimensional or three dimensional) atthe tracked position. In still further examples, neural network analysisof video frames may be used to place images, models, or textures incontent (e.g., images or frames of video). Augmented reality contentitems thus refer both to the images, models, and textures used to createtransformations in content, as well as to additional modeling andanalysis information needed to achieve such transformations with objectdetection, tracking, and placement.

Real-time video processing can be performed with any kind of video data(e.g., video streams, video files, etc.) saved in a memory of acomputerized system of any kind. For example, a user can load videofiles and save them in a memory of a device, or can generate a videostream using sensors of the device. Additionally, any objects can beprocessed using a computer animation model, such as a human's face andparts of a human body, animals, or non-living things such as chairs,cars, or other objects.

In some examples, when a particular modification is selected along withcontent to be transformed, elements to be transformed are identified bythe computing device, and then detected and tracked if they are presentin the frames of the video. The elements of the object are modifiedaccording to the request for modification, thus transforming the framesof the video stream. Transformation of frames of a video stream can beperformed by different methods for different kinds of transformation.For example, for transformations of frames mostly referring to changingforms of object's elements characteristic points for each element of anobject are calculated (e.g., using an Active Shape Model (ASM) or otherknown methods). Then, a mesh based on the characteristic points isgenerated for each of the at least one element of the object. This meshused in the following stage of tracking the elements of the object inthe video stream. In the process of tracking, the mentioned mesh foreach element is aligned with a position of each element. Then,additional points are generated on the mesh. A first set of first pointsis generated for each element based on a request for modification, and aset of second points is generated for each element based on the set offirst points and the request for modification. Then, the frames of thevideo stream can be transformed by modifying the elements of the objecton the basis of the sets of first and second points and the mesh. Insuch method, a background of the modified object can be changed ordistorted as well by tracking and modifying the background.

In some examples, transformations changing some areas of an object usingits elements can be performed by calculating characteristic points foreach element of an object and generating a mesh based on the calculatedcharacteristic points. Points are generated on the mesh, and thenvarious areas based on the points are generated. The elements of theobject are then tracked by aligning the area for each element with aposition for each of the at least one element, and properties of theareas can be modified based on the request for modification, thustransforming the frames of the video stream. Depending on the specificrequest for modification properties of the mentioned areas can betransformed in different ways. Such modifications may involve changingcolor of areas; removing at least some part of areas from the frames ofthe video stream; including one or more new objects into areas which arebased on a request for modification; and modifying or distorting theelements of an area or object. In various embodiments, any combinationof such modifications or other similar modifications may be used. Forcertain models to be animated, some characteristic points can beselected as control points to be used in determining the entirestate-space of options for the model animation.

In some examples of a computer animation model to transform image datausing face detection, the face is detected on an image with use of aspecific face detection algorithm (e.g., Viola-Jones). Then, an ActiveShape Model (ASM) algorithm is applied to the face region of an image todetect facial feature reference points.

In other examples, other methods and algorithms suitable for facedetection can be used. For example, in some embodiments, features arelocated using a landmark, which represents a distinguishable pointpresent in most of the images under consideration. For facial landmarks,for example, the location of the left eye pupil may be used. If aninitial landmark is not identifiable (e.g., if a person has aneyepatch), secondary landmarks may be used. Such landmark identificationprocedures may be used for any such objects. In some examples, a set oflandmarks forms a shape. Shapes can be represented as vectors using thecoordinates of the points in the shape. One shape is aligned to anotherwith a similarity transform (allowing translation, scaling, androtation) that minimizes the average Euclidean distance between shapepoints. The mean shape is the mean of the aligned training shapes.

In some examples, a search for landmarks from the mean shape aligned tothe position and size of the face determined by a global face detectoris started. Such a search then repeats the steps of suggesting atentative shape by adjusting the locations of shape points by templatematching of the image texture around each point and then conforming thetentative shape to a global shape model until convergence occurs. Insome systems, individual template matches are unreliable, and the shapemodel pools the results of the weak template matches to form a strongeroverall classifier. The entire search is repeated at each level in animage pyramid, from coarse to fine resolution.

A transformation system can capture an image or video stream on a clientdevice (e.g., the client device 102) and perform complex imagemanipulations locally on the client device 102 while maintaining asuitable user experience, computation time, and power consumption. Thecomplex image manipulations may include size and shape changes, emotiontransfers (e.g., changing a face from a frown to a smile), statetransfers (e.g., aging a subject, reducing apparent age, changinggender), style transfers, graphical element application, and any othersuitable image or video manipulation implemented by a convolutionalneural network that has been configured to execute efficiently on theclient device 102.

In some examples, a computer animation model to transform image data canbe used by a system where a user may capture an image or video stream ofthe user (e.g., a selfie) using a client device 102 having a neuralnetwork operating as part of a messaging client application 104operating on the client device 102. The transformation system operatingwithin the messaging client 104 determines the presence of a face withinthe image or video stream and provides modification icons associatedwith a computer animation model to transform image data, or the computeranimation model can be present as associated with an interface describedherein. The modification icons include changes that may be the basis formodifying the user's face within the image or video stream as part ofthe modification operation. Once a modification icon is selected, thetransform system initiates a process to convert the image of the user toreflect the selected modification icon (e.g., generate a smiling face onthe user). A modified image or video stream may be presented in agraphical user interface displayed on the client device 102 as soon asthe image or video stream is captured, and a specified modification isselected. The transformation system may implement a complexconvolutional neural network on a portion of the image or video streamto generate and apply the selected modification. That is, the user maycapture the image or video stream and be presented with a modifiedresult in real-time or near real-time once a modification icon has beenselected. Further, the modification may be persistent while the videostream is being captured, and the selected modification icon remainstoggled. Machine taught neural networks may be used to enable suchmodifications.

The graphical user interface, presenting the modification performed bythe transform system, may supply the user with additional interactionoptions. Such options may be based on the interface used to initiate thecontent capture and selection of a particular computer animation model(e.g., initiation from a content creator user interface). In variousembodiments, a modification may be persistent after an initial selectionof a modification icon. The user may toggle the modification on or offby tapping or otherwise selecting the face being modified by thetransformation system and store it for later viewing or browse to otherareas of the imaging application. Where multiple faces are modified bythe transformation system, the user may toggle the modification on oroff globally by tapping or selecting a single face modified anddisplayed within a graphical user interface. In some embodiments,individual faces, among a group of multiple faces, may be individuallymodified, or such modifications may be individually toggled by tappingor selecting the individual face or a series of individual facesdisplayed within the graphical user interface.

A story table 312 stores data regarding collections of messages andassociated image, video, or audio data, which are compiled into acollection (e.g., a story or a gallery). The creation of a particularcollection may be initiated by a particular user (e.g., each user forwhich a record is maintained in the entity table 304). A user may createa “personal story” in the form of a collection of content that has beencreated and sent/broadcast by that user. To this end, the user interfaceof the messaging client 104 may include an icon that is user-selectableto enable a sending user to add specific content to his or her personalstory.

A collection may also constitute a “live story,” which is a collectionof content from multiple users that is created manually, automatically,or using a combination of manual and automatic techniques. For example,a “live story” may constitute a curated stream of user-submitted contentfrom varies locations and events. Users whose client devices havelocation services enabled and are at a common location event at aparticular time may, for example, be presented with an option, via auser interface of the messaging client 104, to contribute content to aparticular live story. The live story may be identified to the user bythe messaging client 104, based on his or her location. The end resultis a “live story” told from a community perspective.

A further type of content collection is known as a “location story,”which enables a user whose client device 102 is located within aspecific geographic location (e.g., on a college or university campus)to contribute to a particular collection. In some examples, acontribution to a location story may require a second degree ofauthentication to verify that the end user belongs to a specificorganization or other entity (e.g., is a student on the universitycampus).

As mentioned above, the video table 314 stores video data that, in oneexample, is associated with messages for which records are maintainedwithin the message table 302. Similarly, the image table 316 storesimage data associated with messages for which message data is stored inthe entity table 304. The entity table 304 may associate variousaugmentations from the augmentation table 310 with various images andvideos stored in the image table 316 and the video table 314.

The database 120 can also store data necessary for the functioning ofthe encoding system 210, such as references to media content generatedby a user of the encoding system 210. For example, the database 120 maycomprise a series of references that correlate a given matrix barcodewith media content, or a particular set of instructions. Accordingly,responsive to receiving a request that includes a reference, theencoding system 210 may access the database 120 in order to identify andaccess the appropriate media or instructions.

Data Communications Architecture

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a message 400,according to some examples, generated by a messaging client 104 forcommunication to a further messaging client 104 or the messaging server114. The content of a particular message 400 is used to populate themessage table 302 stored within the database 120, accessible by themessaging server 114. Similarly, the content of a message 400 is storedin memory as “in-transit” or “in-flight” data of the client device 102or the application servers 112. A message 400 is shown to include thefollowing example components:

-   -   message identifier 402: a unique identifier that identifies the        message 400.    -   message text payload 404: text, to be generated by a user via a        user interface of the client device 102, and that is included in        the message 400.    -   message image payload 406: image data, captured by a camera        component of a client device 102 or retrieved from a memory        component of a client device 102, and that is included in the        message 400. Image data for a sent or received message 400 may        be stored in the image table 316.    -   message video payload 408: video data, captured by a camera        component or retrieved from a memory component of the client        device 102, and that is included in the message 400. Video data        for a sent or received message 400 may be stored in the video        table 314.    -   message audio payload 410: audio data, captured by a microphone        or retrieved from a memory component of the client device 102,        and that is included in the message 400.    -   message augmentation data 412: augmentation data (e.g., filters,        stickers, or other annotations or enhancements) that represents        augmentations to be applied to message image payload 406,        message video payload 408, or message audio payload 410 of the        message 400. Augmentation data for a sent or received message        400 may be stored in the augmentation table 310.    -   message duration parameter 414: parameter value indicating, in        seconds, the amount of time for which content of the message        (e.g., the message image payload 406, message video payload 408,        message audio payload 410) is to be presented or made accessible        to a user via the messaging client 104.    -   message geolocation parameter 416: geolocation data (e.g.,        latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates) associated with the        content payload of the message. Multiple message geolocation        parameter 416 values may be included in the payload, each of        these parameter values being associated with respect to content        items included in the content (e.g., a specific image into        within the message image payload 406, or a specific video in the        message video payload 408).    -   message story identifier 418: identifier values identifying one        or more content collections (e.g., “stories” identified in the        story table 312) with which a particular content item in the        message image payload 406 of the message 400 is associated. For        example, multiple images within the message image payload 406        may each be associated with multiple content collections using        identifier values.    -   message tag 420: each message 400 may be tagged with multiple        tags, each of which is indicative of the subject matter of        content included in the message payload. For example, where a        particular image included in the message image payload 406        depicts an animal (e.g., a lion), a tag value may be included        within the message tag 420 that is indicative of the relevant        animal. Tag values may be generated manually, based on user        input, or may be automatically generated using, for example,        image recognition.    -   message sender identifier 422: an identifier (e.g., a messaging        system identifier, email address, or device identifier)        indicative of a user of the Client device 102 on which the        message 400 was generated and from which the message 400 was        sent.    -   message receiver identifier 424: an identifier (e.g., a        messaging system identifier, email address, or device        identifier) indicative of a user of the client device 102 to        which the message 400 is addressed.

The contents (e.g., values) of the various components of message 400 maybe pointers to locations in tables within which content data values arestored. For example, an image value in the message image payload 406 maybe a pointer to (or address of) a location within an image table 316.Similarly, values within the message video payload 408 may point to datastored within a video table 314, values stored within the messageaugmentations 412 may point to data stored in an augmentation table 310,values stored within the message story identifier 418 may point to datastored in a story table 312, and values stored within the message senderidentifier 422 and the message receiver identifier 424 may point to userrecords stored within an entity table 304.

Time-Based Access Limitation Architecture

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an access-limiting process500, in terms of which access to content (e.g., an ephemeral message502, and associated multimedia payload of data) or a content collection(e.g., an ephemeral message group 504) may be time-limited (e.g., madeephemeral).

An ephemeral message 502 is shown to be associated with a messageduration parameter 506, the value of which determines an amount of timethat the ephemeral message 502 will be displayed to a receiving user ofthe ephemeral message 502 by the messaging client 104. In one example,an ephemeral message 502 is viewable by a receiving user for up to amaximum of 10 seconds, depending on the amount of time that the sendinguser specifies using the message duration parameter 506.

The message duration parameter 506 and the message receiver identifier424 are shown to be inputs to a message timer 512, which is responsiblefor determining the amount of time that the ephemeral message 502 isshown to a particular receiving user identified by the message receiveridentifier 424. In particular, the ephemeral message 502 will only beshown to the relevant receiving user for a time period determined by thevalue of the message duration parameter 506. The message timer 512 isshown to provide output to a more generalized ephemeral timer system202, which is responsible for the overall timing of display of content(e.g., an ephemeral message 502) to a receiving user.

The ephemeral message 502 is shown in FIG. 5 to be included within anephemeral message group 504 (e.g., a collection of messages in apersonal story, or an event story). The ephemeral message group 504 hasan associated group duration parameter 508, a value of which determinesa time duration for which the ephemeral message group 504 is presentedand accessible to users of the messaging system 100. The group durationparameter 508, for example, may be the duration of a music concert,where the ephemeral message group 504 is a collection of contentpertaining to that concert. Alternatively, a user (either the owninguser or a curator user) may specify the value for the group durationparameter 508 when performing the setup and creation of the ephemeralmessage group 504.

Additionally, each ephemeral message 502 within the ephemeral messagegroup 504 has an associated group participation parameter 510, a valueof which determines the duration of time for which the ephemeral message502 will be accessible within the context of the ephemeral message group504. Accordingly, a particular ephemeral message group 504 may “expire”and become inaccessible within the context of the ephemeral messagegroup 504, prior to the ephemeral message group 504 itself expiring interms of the group duration parameter 508. The group duration parameter508, group participation parameter 510, and message receiver identifier424 each provide input to a group timer 514, which operationallydetermines, firstly, whether a particular ephemeral message 502 of theephemeral message group 504 will be displayed to a particular receivinguser and, if so, for how long. Note that the ephemeral message group 504is also aware of the identity of the particular receiving user as aresult of the message receiver identifier 424.

Accordingly, the group timer 514 operationally controls the overalllifespan of an associated ephemeral message group 504, as well as anindividual ephemeral message 502 included in the ephemeral message group504. In one example, each and every ephemeral message 502 within theephemeral message group 504 remains viewable and accessible for a timeperiod specified by the group duration parameter 508. In a furtherexample, a certain ephemeral message 502 may expire, within the contextof ephemeral message group 504, based on a group participation parameter510. Note that a message duration parameter 506 may still determine theduration of time for which a particular ephemeral message 502 isdisplayed to a receiving user, even within the context of the ephemeralmessage group 504. Accordingly, the message duration parameter 506determines the duration of time that a particular ephemeral message 502is displayed to a receiving user, regardless of whether the receivinguser is viewing that ephemeral message 502 inside or outside the contextof an ephemeral message group 504.

The ephemeral timer system 202 may furthermore operationally remove aparticular ephemeral message 502 from the ephemeral message group 504based on a determination that it has exceeded an associated groupparticipation parameter 510. For example, when a sending user hasestablished a group participation parameter 510 of 24 hours fromposting, the ephemeral timer system 202 will remove the relevantephemeral message 502 from the ephemeral message group 504 after thespecified 24 hours. The ephemeral timer system 202 also operates toremove an ephemeral message group 504 when either the groupparticipation parameter 510 for each and every ephemeral message 502within the ephemeral message group 504 has expired, or when theephemeral message group 504 itself has expired in terms of the groupduration parameter 508.

In certain use cases, a creator of a particular ephemeral message group504 may specify an indefinite group duration parameter 508. In thiscase, the expiration of the group participation parameter 510 for thelast remaining ephemeral message 502 within the ephemeral message group504 will determine when the ephemeral message group 504 itself expires.In this case, a new ephemeral message 502, added to the ephemeralmessage group 504, with a new group participation parameter 510,effectively extends the life of an ephemeral message group 504 to equalthe value of the group participation parameter 510.

Responsive to the ephemeral timer system 202 determining that anephemeral message group 504 has expired (e.g., is no longer accessible),the ephemeral timer system 202 communicates with the messaging system100 (and, for example, specifically the messaging client 104) to causean indicium (e.g., an icon) associated with the relevant ephemeralmessage group 504 to no longer be displayed within a user interface ofthe messaging client 104. Similarly, when the ephemeral timer system 202determines that the message duration parameter 506 for a particularephemeral message 502 has expired, the ephemeral timer system 202 causesthe messaging client 104 to no longer display an indicium (e.g., an iconor textual identification) associated with the ephemeral message 502.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 for encoding a matrix barcode with areference to a media item, in accordance with one embodiment. Operationsof the method 600 may be performed by one or more subsystems of themessaging system 100 described above with respect to FIG. 2, such as theencoding system 210. As shown in FIG. 6, the method 600 includes one ormore operations 602, 604, 606, 608 and 610.

At operation 602, the encoding system 210 causes display of a media itemwith a GUI at a client device 102. The GUI may include a GUI toconfigure media content to be included in a message distributed by theclient device 102, or to be added to a media collection associated witha user profile of the client device 102. The GUI may include a displayof a set of graphical elements, such as stickers, wherein a user mayprovide an input to select and position a graphical element at aposition within the media item presented within the GUI.

At operation 604, the user provides an input that selects a graphicalelement from among the set of graphical elements displayed within theGUI. For example, in some embodiments, the input may include a tactileinput that drags and drops the graphical element at a position withinthe media item presented within the GUI. In some embodiments, asdiscussed herein, the graphical element may correspond with a feature togenerate a scannable coded image, such as a matrix barcode, orQuick-Response (QR) code, which may be displayed at a position upon themedia item.

At operation 606, responsive to receiving the input that selects thegraphical element from among the set of graphical elements, the encodingsystem 210 generates a reference to the media item displayed within theGUI. For example, the reference may include a URL which directs to themedia item, or a position of the media item among a media collection,such as a story.

At operation 608, the encoding system 210 encodes a matrix barcode withthe reference to the media item. Encoding the matrix barcode may includeoperations to generate a two-dimensional code that consists of cells, ordots, arranges in a pattern, whereby the unique patterned arrangement ofcells or dots is based on the reference. Accordingly, by scanning thematrix barcode, a machine configured to read such patterns would be ableto decode the matrix barcode in order to receive the reference encodedwithin the matrix barcode.

At operation 610, the encoding system 210 generates a presentation ofthe media item that includes a display of the matrix barcode at aposition within the media item, wherein the position of the matrixbarcode within the media item is based on a user input.

In some embodiments, generating the presentation of the media item thatincludes the display of the matrix barcode may include generating aunique matrix barcode based on one or more factors that includeattributes of the media item, as well as user profile data associatedwith a user of the client device 102. For example, in some embodiments,the matrix barcode may include a user identifier from the user profileassociated with the client device 102, or may have one or more graphicalproperties, such as colors or shapes, which may be based on attributesof the media item itself. As an illustrative example, a matrix barcodemay be generated which includes a display of a user identifier (i.e., auser avatar) within the matrix barcode, and one or more colors which maybe based on user preferences, or a foreground or background colordetected within the media item presented within the GUI.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method 700 for distributing a message that includesa presentation of a matrix barcode, in accordance with one embodiment.Operations of the method 700 may be performed by one or more subsystemsof the messaging system 100 described above with respect to FIG. 2, suchas the encoding system 210. As shown in FIG. 7, the method 700 includesone or more operations 702, 704, and 706.

At operation 702, responsive to a request from the client device 102,the messaging client 104 generates a message that includes thepresentation of the media item generated by the encoding system 210,wherein the presentation of the media item includes a display of amatrix barcode at a position within the media item.

At operation 704, the message that includes the presentation of themedia item is distributed to one or more recipients. According tocertain embodiments, distribution of the message that includes thepresentation of the media item may include adding the presentation ofthe media content to a collection of media content associated with theuser of the client device 102. In such embodiments, and as discussedabove, a media collection may include a “story,” “personal story,” “livestory,” or “location story,” wherein a user accessing one or more of theabove stories may be presented with the presentation of the mediacontent among a display of the corresponding collection of mediacontent. In further embodiments, the message may be distributed to oneor more recipients directly as a message, whereby recipients of themessage may be presented with the presentation of the media content. Incertain embodiments, any of the above messages may include an ephemeralmessage, wherein a display duration of the ephemeral message may bedetermined by the ephemeral timer system 202. Accordingly, at operation706, the presentation of the media content is displayed to the one ormore recipients based on the display duration.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method 800 for accessing media content via a matrixbarcode, in accordance with one embodiment. Operations of the method 800may be performed by one or more subsystems of the messaging system 100described above with respect to FIG. 2, such as the encoding system 210.As shown in FIG. 8, the method 800 includes one or more operations 802,804, and 806, which may be performed subsequent to one or more of theoperations of the method 700, such as operation 706, in which thepresentation of the media item that includes the display of the matrixbarcode is displayed at one or more recipient devices (i.e., a clientdevice 102).

At operation 802, as in operation 706, the messaging client 104 causesdisplay of the presentation of media content that includes the displayof the matrix barcode at a first client device (i.e., a client device102).

At operation 804, the messaging client 104 receives a request from asecond client device (i.e., a client device 102), wherein the requestincludes a scan of the matrix barcode displayed at the first clientdevice. For example, a user of the second client device may directlyscan the presentation of the media content that includes the matrixbarcode displayed at the first client device, and in response, based onthe instructions and the reference encoded within the matrix barcode,the encoding system 210 may cause the second client device to generate arequest to the messaging client 104.

At operation 806, the encoding system 210 accesses the database 120 toaccess the media content based on the reference encoded within thematrix barcode, and causes the second client device to display thepresentation of the media content responsive to the request.

In some embodiments, causing display of the presentation of the mediacontent may include accessing a story (i.e., a media collection), andpresenting the story from a position of the presentation of the mediacontent within the story. As an illustrative example, if thepresentation of the media content happens to be the third piece of mediacontent among a media collection of ten media items, the messagingclient 104 may cause display of the entire story, starting from thethird piece of media content that comprises the presentation of themedia content.

FIG. 9 illustrates an interface diagram 900, according to certainexample embodiments. As seen in the interface diagram 900, the encodingsystem 210 may generate and cause display of a GUI 904 to configure amedia item, such as the media item 1002 depicted in the interfacediagram 1000 of FIG. 10. The GUI 904 may include a display of a set ofgraphical elements 906, wherein the set of graphical elements 906 maycomprise stickers.

In some embodiments, each graphical element among the set of graphicalelements 906 may correspond with a set of instructions that cause themessaging system 100 to perform certain operations. For example, asdiscussed in the method 600 depicted in FIG. 6, responsive to receivingan input that selects the graphical element 902, the messaging system100 may cause the encoding system 210 to generate a reference to a mediaitem (i.e., the media item 1002), and to encode a matrix barcode (i.e.,the matrix barcode 1004) with the reference to the media item.

Accordingly, the GUI 904 may comprise a set of graphical elements 906from which a user of the client device 102 may provide inputs to selectone or more of the set of graphical elements 906, and to position theone or more graphical elements at a position within a media item, suchas an image, in order to generate the media item 1002 of the interfacediagram 1000.

In some embodiments, attributes of the set of graphical elements 906 maybe based on context data that includes location data, temporal data, aswell as user profile data of a user of the client device 102. Forexample, according to certain embodiments, one or more of the set ofgraphical elements 906 may be generated and presented based on the useridentifier 908. As seen in the interface diagram 900, the graphicalelement 902 may comprise a display of the user identifier 908.

In some embodiments, the GUI 904 may be presented at the client device102 responsive to a request from the client device 102 to generate amessage, or a media item to be distributed in a message, or added to amedia collection.

FIG. 10 illustrates an interface diagram 1000, according to certainexample embodiments. As seen in the interface diagram 1000, the encodingsystem 210 may generate and cause display of the media item 1002 at aclient device, such as the client device 102, wherein the media item1002 may have been configured based on inputs received from a user viathe GUI 904.

As seen in the interface diagram 1000, the media item 1002 may comprisea presentation of an image 1008 that includes a display of a matrixbarcode 1004 at a user defined position within the image 1008. In suchembodiments, the matrix barcode 1004 may be generated by the encodingsystem 210, and encoded with instructions that include a reference tothe media item 1002. Accordingly, by scanning the matrix barcode 1004,the encoding system 210 may cause a client device 102 to performoperations that include generating a request to the messaging system100, wherein the request include the reference to the media item 1002.

As described in the method 800, responsive to receiving the request thatincludes the reference to the media item 1002 from a client device 102,the messaging system 100 may cause display of the media item 1002 at theclient device 102.

According to certain embodiments, the matrix barcode 1004 may include adisplay of a user identifier, such as the user avatar 1006, wherein theuser avatar 1006 is associated with a user profile of a user thatgenerated or otherwise configured the media item 1002, and wherein themedia item 1002 is a part of a media collection of the user profileassociated with the avatar 1006.

Machine Architecture

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic representation of the machine 1100 withinwhich instructions 1108 (e.g., software, a program, an application, anapplet, an app, or other executable code) for causing the machine 1100to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may beexecuted. For example, the instructions 1108 may cause the machine 1100to execute any one or more of the methods described herein. Theinstructions 1108 transform the general, non-programmed machine 1100into a particular machine 1100 programmed to carry out the described andillustrated functions in the manner described. The machine 1100 mayoperate as a standalone device or may be coupled (e.g., networked) toother machines. In a networked deployment, the machine 1100 may operatein the capacity of a server machine or a client machine in aserver-client network environment, or as a peer machine in apeer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine 1100 maycomprise, but not be limited to, a server computer, a client computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook,a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), anentertainment media system, a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a mobiledevice, a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch), a smart home device(e.g., a smart appliance), other smart devices, a web appliance, anetwork router, a network switch, a network bridge, or any machinecapable of executing the instructions 1108, sequentially or otherwise,that specify actions to be taken by the machine 1100. Further, whileonly a single machine 1100 is illustrated, the term “machine” shall alsobe taken to include a collection of machines that individually orjointly execute the instructions 1108 to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein. The machine 1100, for example, maycomprise the client device 102 or any one of a number of server devicesforming part of the messaging server system 108. In some examples, themachine 1100 may also comprise both client and server systems, withcertain operations of a particular method or algorithm being performedon the server-side and with certain operations of the particular methodor algorithm being performed on the client-side.

The machine 1100 may include processors 1102, memory 1104, andinput/output I/O components 638, which may be configured to communicatewith each other via a bus 1140. In an example, the processors 1102(e.g., a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Reduced Instruction SetComputing (RISC) Processor, a Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC)Processor, a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a Digital Signal Processor(DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), aRadio-Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC), another processor, or anysuitable combination thereof) may include, for example, a processor 1106and a processor 1110 that execute the instructions 1108. The term“processor” is intended to include multi-core processors that maycomprise two or more independent processors (sometimes referred to as“cores”) that may execute instructions contemporaneously. Although FIG.11 shows multiple processors 1102, the machine 1100 may include a singleprocessor with a single-core, a single processor with multiple cores(e.g., a multi-core processor), multiple processors with a single core,multiple processors with multiples cores, or any combination thereof.

The memory 1104 includes a main memory 1112, a static memory 1114, and astorage unit 1116, both accessible to the processors 1102 via the bus1140. The main memory 1104, the static memory 1114, and storage unit1116 store the instructions 1108 embodying any one or more of themethodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 1108 mayalso reside, completely or partially, within the main memory 1112,within the static memory 1114, within machine-readable medium 1118within the storage unit 1116, within at least one of the processors 1102(e.g., within the Processor's cache memory), or any suitable combinationthereof, during execution thereof by the machine 1100.

The I/O components 1138 may include a wide variety of components toreceive input, provide output, produce output, transmit information,exchange information, capture measurements, and so on. The specific I/Ocomponents 1138 that are included in a particular machine will depend onthe type of machine. For example, portable machines such as mobilephones may include a touch input device or other such input mechanisms,while a headless server machine will likely not include such a touchinput device. It will be appreciated that the I/O components 1138 mayinclude many other components that are not shown in FIG. 11. In variousexamples, the I/O components 1138 may include user output components1124 and user input components 1126. The user output components 1124 mayinclude visual components (e.g., a display such as a plasma displaypanel (PDP), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a projector, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), acousticcomponents (e.g., speakers), haptic components (e.g., a vibratory motor,resistance mechanisms), other signal generators, and so forth. The userinput components 1126 may include alphanumeric input components (e.g., akeyboard, a touch screen configured to receive alphanumeric input, aphoto-optical keyboard, or other alphanumeric input components),point-based input components (e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, ajoystick, a motion sensor, or another pointing instrument), tactileinput components (e.g., a physical button, a touch screen that provideslocation and force of touches or touch gestures, or other tactile inputcomponents), audio input components (e.g., a microphone), and the like.

In further examples, the I/O components 1138 may include biometriccomponents 1128, motion components 1130, environmental components 1132,or position components 1134, among a wide array of other components. Forexample, the biometric components 1128 include components to detectexpressions (e.g., hand expressions, facial expressions, vocalexpressions, body gestures, or eye-tracking), measure biosignals (e.g.,blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, perspiration, or brainwaves), identify a person (e.g., voice identification, retinalidentification, facial identification, fingerprint identification, orelectroencephalogram-based identification), and the like. The motioncomponents 1130 include acceleration sensor components (e.g.,accelerometer), gravitation sensor components, rotation sensorcomponents (e.g., gyroscope).

The environmental components 1132 include, for example, one or cameras(with still image/photograph and video capabilities), illuminationsensor components (e.g., photometer), temperature sensor components(e.g., one or more thermometers that detect ambient temperature),humidity sensor components, pressure sensor components (e.g.,barometer), acoustic sensor components (e.g., one or more microphonesthat detect background noise), proximity sensor components (e.g.,infrared sensors that detect nearby objects), gas sensors (e.g., gasdetection sensors to detection concentrations of hazardous gases forsafety or to measure pollutants in the atmosphere), or other componentsthat may provide indications, measurements, or signals corresponding toa surrounding physical environment.

With respect to cameras, the client device 102 may have a camera systemcomprising, for example, front cameras on a front surface of the clientdevice 102 and rear cameras on a rear surface of the client device 102.The front cameras may, for example, be used to capture still images andvideo of a user of the client device 102 (e.g., “selfies”), which maythen be augmented with augmentation data (e.g., filters) describedabove. The rear cameras may, for example, be used to capture stillimages and videos in a more traditional camera mode, with these imagessimilarly being augmented with augmentation data. In addition to frontand rear cameras, the client device 102 may also include a 3600 camerafor capturing 3600 photographs and videos.

Further, the camera system of a client device 102 may include dual rearcameras (e.g., a primary camera as well as a depth-sensing camera), oreven triple, quad or penta rear camera configurations on the front andrear sides of the client device 102. These multiple cameras systems mayinclude a wide camera, an ultra-wide camera, a telephoto camera, a macrocamera and a depth sensor, for example.

The position components 1134 include location sensor components (e.g., aGPS receiver component), altitude sensor components (e.g., altimeters orbarometers that detect air pressure from which altitude may be derived),orientation sensor components (e.g., magnetometers), and the like.

Communication may be implemented using a wide variety of technologies.The I/O components 1138 further include communication components 1136operable to couple the machine 1100 to a network 1120 or devices 1122via respective coupling or connections. For example, the communicationcomponents 1136 may include a network interface Component or anothersuitable device to interface with the network 1120. In further examples,the communication components 1136 may include wired communicationcomponents, wireless communication components, cellular communicationcomponents, Near Field Communication (NFC) components, Bluetooth®components (e.g., Bluetooth® Low Energy), Wi-Fi® components, and othercommunication components to provide communication via other modalities.The devices 1122 may be another machine or any of a wide variety ofperipheral devices (e.g., a peripheral device coupled via a USB).

Moreover, the communication components 1136 may detect identifiers orinclude components operable to detect identifiers. For example, thecommunication components 1136 may include Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) tag reader components, NFC smart tag detection components,optical reader components (e.g., an optical sensor to detectone-dimensional bar codes such as Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code,multi-dimensional bar codes such as Quick Response (QR) code, Azteccode, Data Matrix, Dataglyph, MaxiCode, PDF417, Ultra Code, UCC RSS-2Dbar code, and other optical codes), or acoustic detection components(e.g., microphones to identify tagged audio signals). In addition, avariety of information may be derived via the communication components1136, such as location via Internet Protocol (IP) geolocation, locationvia Wi-Fi® signal triangulation, location via detecting an NFC beaconsignal that may indicate a particular location, and so forth.

The various memories (e.g., main memory 1112, static memory 1114, andmemory of the processors 1102) and storage unit 1116 may store one ormore sets of instructions and data structures (e.g., software) embodyingor used by any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein. These instructions (e.g., the instructions 1108), when executedby processors 1102, cause various operations to implement the disclosedexamples.

The instructions 1108 may be transmitted or received over the network1120, using a transmission medium, via a network interface device (e.g.,a network interface component included in the communication components1136) and using any one of several well-known transfer protocols (e.g.,hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)). Similarly, the instructions 1108may be transmitted or received using a transmission medium via acoupling (e.g., a peer-to-peer coupling) to the devices 1122.

Software Architecture

FIG. 12 is a block diagram 1200 illustrating a software architecture1204, which can be installed on any one or more of the devices describedherein. The software architecture 1204 is supported by hardware such asa machine 1202 that includes processors 1220, memory 1226, and I/Ocomponents 1238. In this example, the software architecture 1204 can beconceptualized as a stack of layers, where each layer provides aparticular functionality. The software architecture 1204 includes layerssuch as an operating system 1212, libraries 1210, frameworks 1208, andapplications 1206. Operationally, the applications 1206 invoke API calls1250 through the software stack and receive messages 1252 in response tothe API calls 1250.

The operating system 1212 manages hardware resources and provides commonservices. The operating system 1212 includes, for example, a kernel1214, services 1216, and drivers 1222. The kernel 1214 acts as anabstraction layer between the hardware and the other software layers.For example, the kernel 1214 provides memory management, processormanagement (e.g., scheduling), component management, networking, andsecurity settings, among other functionality. The services 1216 canprovide other common services for the other software layers. The drivers1222 are responsible for controlling or interfacing with the underlyinghardware. For instance, the drivers 1222 can include display drivers,camera drivers, BLUETOOTH® or BLUETOOTH® Low Energy drivers, flashmemory drivers, serial communication drivers (e.g., USB drivers), WI-FI®drivers, audio drivers, power management drivers, and so forth.

The libraries 1210 provide a common low-level infrastructure used by theapplications 1206. The libraries 1210 can include system libraries 1218(e.g., C standard library) that provide functions such as memoryallocation functions, string manipulation functions, mathematicfunctions, and the like. In addition, the libraries 1210 can include APIlibraries 1224 such as media libraries (e.g., libraries to supportpresentation and manipulation of various media formats such as MovingPicture Experts Group-4 (MPEG4), Advanced Video Coding (H.264 or AVC),Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 (MP3), Advanced Audio Coding (AAC),Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR) audio codec, Joint Photographic Experts Group(JPEG or JPG), or Portable Network Graphics (PNG)), graphics libraries(e.g., an OpenGL framework used to render in two dimensions (2D) andthree dimensions (3D) in a graphic content on a display), databaselibraries (e.g., SQLite to provide various relational databasefunctions), web libraries (e.g., WebKit to provide web browsingfunctionality), and the like. The libraries 1210 can also include a widevariety of other libraries 1228 to provide many other APIs to theapplications 1206.

The frameworks 1208 provide a common high-level infrastructure that isused by the applications 1206. For example, the frameworks 1208 providevarious graphical user interface (GUI) functions, high-level resourcemanagement, and high-level location services. The frameworks 1208 canprovide a broad spectrum of other APIs that can be used by theapplications 1206, some of which may be specific to a particularoperating system or platform.

In an example, the applications 1206 may include a home application1236, a contacts application 1230, a browser application 1232, a bookreader application 1234, a location application 1242, a mediaapplication 1244, a messaging application 1246, a game application 1248,and a broad assortment of other applications such as a third-partyapplication 1240. The applications 1206 are programs that executefunctions defined in the programs. Various programming languages can beemployed to create one or more of the applications 1206, structured in avariety of manners, such as object-oriented programming languages (e.g.,Objective-C, Java, or C++) or procedural programming languages (e.g., Cor assembly language). In a specific example, the third-partyapplication 1240 (e.g., an application developed using the ANDROID™ orIOS™ software development kit (SDK) by an entity other than the vendorof the particular platform) may be mobile software running on a mobileoperating system such as IOS™, ANDROID™, WINDOWS® Phone, or anothermobile operating system. In this example, the third-party application1240 can invoke the API calls 1250 provided by the operating system 1212to facilitate functionality described herein.

Processing Components

Turning now to FIG. 13, there is shown a diagrammatic representation ofa processing environment 1300, which includes a processor 1302, aprocessor 1306, and a processor 1308 (e.g., a GPU, CPU or combinationthereof).

The processor 1302 is shown to be coupled to a power source 1304, and toinclude (either permanently configured or temporarily instantiated)modules, namely an X component 1310, a Y component 1312, and a Zcomponent 1314. The X component 1310 operationally performs operationsas discussed in the method 600, the Y component 1312 operationallyperforms operations as discussed in the method 700, and the Z component1314 operationally performs operations as discussed in the method 800.As illustrated, the processor 1302 is communicatively coupled to boththe processor 1306 and the processor 1308. The X component 1310, Ycomponent 1312, and Z component 1314, are not necessarily limited toonly the operations described in the above methods, and may work inconjunction with one another to perform one or more operations of eachof the methods discussed above.

Glossary

“Carrier signal” refers to any intangible medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by themachine, and includes digital or analog communications signals or otherintangible media to facilitate communication of such instructions.Instructions may be transmitted or received over a network using atransmission medium via a network interface device.

“Client device” refers to any machine that interfaces to acommunications network to obtain resources from one or more serversystems or other client devices. A client device may be, but is notlimited to, a mobile phone, desktop computer, laptop, portable digitalassistants (PDAs), smartphones, tablets, ultrabooks, netbooks, laptops,multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, game consoles, set-top boxes, or any other communicationdevice that a user may use to access a network.

“Communication network” refers to one or more portions of a network thatmay be an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual privatenetwork (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a widearea network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network(MAN), the Internet, a portion of the Internet, a portion of the PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN), a plain old telephone service (POTS)network, a cellular telephone network, a wireless network, a Wi-Fi®network, another type of network, or a combination of two or more suchnetworks. For example, a network or a portion of a network may include awireless or cellular network and the coupling may be a Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA) connection, a Global System for Mobilecommunications (GSM) connection, or other types of cellular or wirelesscoupling. In this example, the coupling may implement any of a varietyof types of data transfer technology, such as Single Carrier RadioTransmission Technology (1×RTT), Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO)technology, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology, EnhancedData rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology, third GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) including 3G, fourth generation wireless (4G)networks, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High SpeedPacket Access (HSPA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access(WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard, others defined by variousstandard-setting organizations, other long-range protocols, or otherdata transfer technology.

“Component” refers to a device, physical entity, or logic havingboundaries defined by function or subroutine calls, branch points, APIs,or other technologies that provide for the partitioning ormodularization of particular processing or control functions. Componentsmay be combined via their interfaces with other components to carry outa machine process. A component may be a packaged functional hardwareunit designed for use with other components and a part of a program thatusually performs a particular function of related functions. Componentsmay constitute either software components (e.g., code embodied on amachine-readable medium) or hardware components. A “hardware component”is a tangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may beconfigured or arranged in a certain physical manner. In various exampleembodiments, one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone computersystem, a client computer system, or a server computer system) or one ormore hardware components of a computer system (e.g., a processor or agroup of processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an applicationor application portion) as a hardware component that operates to performcertain operations as described herein. A hardware component may also beimplemented mechanically, electronically, or any suitable combinationthereof. For example, a hardware component may include dedicatedcircuitry or logic that is permanently configured to perform certainoperations. A hardware component may be a special-purpose processor,such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC). A hardware component may alsoinclude programmable logic or circuitry that is temporarily configuredby software to perform certain operations. For example, a hardwarecomponent may include software executed by a general-purpose processoror other programmable processor. Once configured by such software,hardware components become specific machines (or specific components ofa machine) uniquely tailored to perform the configured functions and areno longer general-purpose processors. It will be appreciated that thedecision to implement a hardware component mechanically, in dedicatedand permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configuredcircuitry (e.g., configured by software), may be driven by cost and timeconsiderations. Accordingly, the phrase “hardware component” (or“hardware-implemented component”) should be understood to encompass atangible entity, be that an entity that is physically constructed,permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarily configured(e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner or to perform certainoperations described herein. Considering embodiments in which hardwarecomponents are temporarily configured (e.g., programmed), each of thehardware components need not be configured or instantiated at any oneinstance in time. For example, where a hardware component comprises ageneral-purpose processor configured by software to become aspecial-purpose processor, the general-purpose processor may beconfigured as respectively different special-purpose processors (e.g.,comprising different hardware components) at different times. Softwareaccordingly configures a particular processor or processors, forexample, to constitute a particular hardware component at one instanceof time and to constitute a different hardware component at a differentinstance of time. Hardware components can provide information to, andreceive information from, other hardware components. Accordingly, thedescribed hardware components may be regarded as being communicativelycoupled. Where multiple hardware components exist contemporaneously,communications may be achieved through signal transmission (e.g., overappropriate circuits and buses) between or among two or more of thehardware components. In embodiments in which multiple hardwarecomponents are configured or instantiated at different times,communications between such hardware components may be achieved, forexample, through the storage and retrieval of information in memorystructures to which the multiple hardware components have access. Forexample, one hardware component may perform an operation and store theoutput of that operation in a memory device to which it iscommunicatively coupled. A further hardware component may then, at alater time, access the memory device to retrieve and process the storedoutput. Hardware components may also initiate communications with inputor output devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection ofinformation). The various operations of example methods described hereinmay be performed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implementedcomponents that operate to perform one or more operations or functionsdescribed herein. As used herein, “processor-implemented component”refers to a hardware component implemented using one or more processors.Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented, with a particular processor or processors beingan example of hardware. For example, at least some of the operations ofa method may be performed by one or more processors 1004 orprocessor-implemented components. Moreover, the one or more processorsmay also operate to support performance of the relevant operations in a“cloud computing” environment or as a “software as a service” (SaaS).For example, at least some of the operations may be performed by a groupof computers (as examples of machines including processors), with theseoperations being accessible via a network (e.g., the Internet) and viaone or more appropriate interfaces (e.g., an API). The performance ofcertain of the operations may be distributed among the processors, notonly residing within a single machine, but deployed across a number ofmachines. In some example embodiments, the processors orprocessor-implemented components may be located in a single geographiclocation (e.g., within a home environment, an office environment, or aserver farm). In other example embodiments, the processors orprocessor-implemented components may be distributed across a number ofgeographic locations.

“Computer-readable storage medium” refers to both machine-storage mediaand transmission media. Thus, the terms include both storagedevices/media and carrier waves/modulated data signals. The terms“machine-readable medium,” “computer-readable medium” and“device-readable medium” mean the same thing and may be usedinterchangeably in this disclosure.

“Ephemeral message” refers to a message that is accessible for atime-limited duration. An ephemeral message may be a text, an image, avideo and the like. The access time for the ephemeral message may be setby the message sender. Alternatively, the access time may be a defaultsetting or a setting specified by the recipient. Regardless of thesetting technique, the message is transitory.

“Machine storage medium” refers to a single or multiple storage devicesand media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and associatedcaches and servers) that store executable instructions, routines anddata. The term shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limitedto, solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media, includingmemory internal or external to processors. Specific examples ofmachine-storage media, computer-storage media and device-storage mediainclude non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductormemory devices, e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), FPGA, andflash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks andremovable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks Theterms “machine-storage medium,” “device-storage medium,”“computer-storage medium” mean the same thing and may be usedinterchangeably in this disclosure. The terms “machine-storage media,”“computer-storage media,” and “device-storage media” specificallyexclude carrier waves, modulated data signals, and other such media, atleast some of which are covered under the term “signal medium.”

“Non-transitory computer-readable storage medium” refers to a tangiblemedium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying theinstructions for execution by a machine.

“Signal medium” refers to any intangible medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding, or carrying the instructions for execution by amachine and includes digital or analog communications signals or otherintangible media to facilitate communication of software or data. Theterm “signal medium” shall be taken to include any form of a modulateddata signal, carrier wave, and so forth. The term “modulated datasignal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics setor changed in such a matter as to encode information in the signal. Theterms “transmission medium” and “signal medium” mean the same thing andmay be used interchangeably in this disclosure.

1. A method comprising: causing display of a media item within agraphical user interface (GUI) at a client device associated with a userprofile, the graphical user interface including a set of graphicalelements; receiving a selection of a graphical element from among theset of graphical elements within the graphical user interface;generating a set of instructions to add a user identifier associatedwith the user profile to a list of user connections based on theselection of the graphical element; encoding a matrix barcode with theset of instructions to add the user identifier associated with the userprofile to the list of user connections; receiving an input that selectsa point within the media item; and generating a presentation of themedia item that includes a display of the matrix barcode at a positionthat corresponds with the point within the media item, the display ofthe matrix barcode comprising a display of the user identifierassociated with a user of the client device.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the generating the presentation of the media item furthercomprises: receiving an input that identifies the position within themedia item.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the media item comprisesimage data.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method furthercomprises: generating a message that includes the presentation of themedia item; and distributing the message to one or more recipients. 5.The method of claim 4, wherein the message includes an ephemeral messagethat comprises a display duration.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein thedistributing the message to one or more recipients includes adding thepresentation of the media item to a media story that comprises acollection of media items associated with a user profile.
 7. The methodof claim 1, wherein the reference to the media item includes a uniformresource locator (URL) address.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein theclient device is a first client device associated with a first userprofile, and the method further comprises: causing display of thepresentation of the media item that includes the display of the QR codeat the first client device; receiving a request that includes a scan ofthe matrix barcode from a second client device associated with a seconduser profile; causing the second client device to perform the set ofinstructions to add the user identifier associated with the first userprofile to the list of user connections associated with the second userprofile in response to the request; and causing display of thepresentation of the media item at the second client device.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the encoding the matrix barcode with thereference to the media item includes: generating the matrix barcodebased on user profile data associated with the client device.
 10. Asystem comprising: a memory; and at least one hardware processor coupledto the memory and comprising instructions that causes the system toperform operations comprising: causing display of a media item within agraphical user interface (GUI) at a client device associated with a userprofile, the graphical user interface including a set of graphicalelements; receiving a selection of a graphical element from among theset of graphical elements within the graphical user interface;generating a set of instructions to add a user identifier associatedwith the user profile to a list of user connections based on theselection of the graphical element; encoding a matrix barcode with theset of instructions to add the user identifier associated with the userprofile to the list of user connections; receiving an input that selectsa point within the media item; and generating a presentation of themedia item that includes a display of the matrix barcode at a positionthat corresponds with the point within the media item, the display ofthe matrix barcode comprising a display of the user identifierassociated with a user of the client device.
 11. The system of claim 10,wherein the generating the presentation of the media item furthercomprises: receiving an input that identifies the position within themedia item.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the media item comprisesimage data.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations furthercomprise: generating a message that includes the presentation of themedia item; and distributing the message to one or more recipients. 14.The system of claim 13, wherein the message includes an ephemeralmessage that comprises a display duration.
 15. The system of claim 13,wherein the distributing the message to one or more recipients includesadding the presentation of the media item to a media story thatcomprises a collection of media items associated with a user profile.16. The system of claim 10, wherein the reference to the media itemincludes a uniform resource locator (URL) address.
 17. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the client device is a first client device associatedwith a first user profile, and the operations further comprise: causingdisplay of the presentation of the media item that includes the displayof the QR code at the first client device; receiving a request thatincludes a scan of the matrix barcode from a second client deviceassociated with a second user profile; causing the second client deviceto perform the set of instructions to add the user identifier associatedwith the first user profile to the list of user connections associatedwith the second user profile in response to the request; and causingdisplay of the presentation of the media item at the second clientdevice.
 18. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprisinginstructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine,cause the machine to perform operations comprising: causing display of amedia item within a graphical user interface (GUI) at a client deviceassociated with a user profile, the graphical user interface including aset of graphical elements; receiving a selection of a graphical elementfrom among the set of graphical elements within the graphical userinterface; generating a set of instructions to add a user identifierassociated with the user profile to a list of user connections based onthe selection of the graphical element; encoding a matrix barcode withthe set of instructions to add the user identifier associated with theuser profile to the list of user connections; receiving an input thatselects a point within the media item; and generating a presentation ofthe media item that includes a display of the matrix barcode at aposition that corresponds with the point within the media item, thedisplay of the matrix barcode comprising a display of the useridentifier associated with a user of the client device.
 19. Thenon-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein thegenerating the presentation of the media item further comprises:receiving an input that identifies the position within the media item.20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 18,wherein the media item comprises image data.